Warbird Information Exchange

There is a nice piece in this months Flypast magazine on the restoration Hawker Tempest MW763 , being restored by Richard Graces Air Leasing , it will fly in 2020 and will be powered by a Bristol Centaurus , the owner is said to be Graham Peacock.
The restoration is well advanced and waiting for the engine to be delivered before the systems can be completed .If the speed he turned the Buchon's around is anything to go by we should hopefully see the Tempest at Flying Legends In July , fingers crossed .

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495th F.T.G your not forgotten

Who did the Centaurus?

It was overhauled in-house at Weald Aviation - North Weald Airfield, UK

It's a fantastic choice they've made in the markings they're painting it in as well, that of PR533, as these models portray:
http://www.specialhobby.info/2018/10/mi ... again.html
http://216.187.79.26/2017/features/tempestii32rh_1.htm

It's going to be awesome to see it in air-to-air photos over the English countryside, with the bright silver and lighter post-war insignia blue markings, and parked on the grass at airfields like Duxford.

The owner of Tempest MW763, Graham Peacock, also owns the TF-51D "Contrary Mary", P-47D "Nellie B", Spitfire Mk.V EE602, Spitfire Mk.XIV MV268, Hurricane Mk.1 P2902, Hawker Fury SR661 and Buchon "White 9". He also has a Bf-109G-2 (WkNr.14798) under restoration at Air Leasing, as well as two Bf-109F projects and two other Tempest projects registered (one being a Mk.V variant).


The Hawker Tempest II MW376 restoration in Canada should also fly this year, powered by an R-2800, and by contrast will be painted in a WWII-era camouflage scheme (supposedly similar to the paint schem that has been worn by Kermit Weeks' Tempest II).

The Tempest V project was purchased by The Hawker Typhoon Preservation Group to aid their project.

As described in the latest Flypast magazine (Feb '20) Mr Peacock also owns a Buchon project (C/N 52). It was used as a spares aircraft for the BoB film in '68.

There are supposedly two Tempest II projects in Texas: NW404 (was that the one at Hooks airport?) and MW810. Does anyone have information on the status of these?

Or are these something of which we may not speak?

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Had God intended for man to fly behind inline engines, Pratt & Whitney would have made them.

CB

http://www.angelfire.com/dc/jinxx1/Desrt_Wings.html

Hi Cliff, both Tempest projects in Texas are on hold at the moment, MW404 is for sale through Chris and MW810 is at Ezells but I think that one was Nelsons baby so am guessing it will wait pending his health improving, best regards for the new year, Pete

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Give me a Centaurus over a Merlin any day

This pedant feels the need to point out this is a Tempest II, or 2, rather than 11!

I'm excited to hear the news and updates as I've tried following the project for some time, becoming much more interesting in this variant since MW376 came to New Zealand for restoration. The fact she (later relocated to Canada) and the Peacock airframe have such similar serials has caused me to Edit more than one post in my time!!


Thanks for the info and links John, what a gorgeous scheme! I was hoping for the same scheme as '376 (and LA607 as you alluded to) but if those models, and the finish of Mr Peacock's other aircraft, are anything to go by then she will be a stunner!

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Zac in NZ
#avgeek, modelbuilder, photographer, writer. Callsign: "HANDBAG".
https://linktr.ee/zacyates

"It's his plane, he spent the money to restore it, he can do with it what he wants. I will never understand what's hard to comprehend about this." - kalamazookid, 20/08/2013
"The more time you spend around warbirds the sooner you learn nothing, is simple." - JohnB, 24/02/22

HI,
I did try to edit this after I noticed I had put 11 and not II , forgive me for my sins

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495th F.T.G your not forgotten

Any news on the Propeller ? I read at one time, that Kermit was looking for one for his, Thanks in advance, Hmmmm.....

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WWI & WWII Warbird Fan.

Beverly prop per chance? Jim Mott had one on his Centaurus powered Sea Fury way back when. Of course I think the entire engine/prop package was from a Beverly so maybe that makes a difference?

Hello,

This project should be near completion now, did you have any information about this project?

Making steady progress I understand. Expect to see it airborne before the start of next season (fingers crossed!)

A small update on MW763. Like a lot of projects, Covid 19 has taken its toll.

Whilst the new left wing was delivered in early April and is now being trial fitted, the right wing manufacture has slowed down due to workplace restrictions, and is now not due for a while, so a first flight in 2020 will be a push.